Fabric take-up mechanism for textile machines



Dec. 8, 1953 P. .1. SCHOENSTER ET AL 2,561,614

FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 11, 1949 v 5 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8, 1953 P. J. SCHOENSTER ET AL 2,661,614

' FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed May 11,, 1949 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 WITNESSES INVENTORS:

Marl. Ebez'i,

BY -w.

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FABRIC TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Peter J. Schoenster, Teaneck, and Max E. Ebert,

West New York, N. J., assignors to Alfred Hofmann & 00., West New York, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 11, 1949, Serial No. 92,534

9 Claims. (Cl. 66-149) are drawn from the knitting needles and wrapped upon take-up rolls or reels.

Due to the changing width of flat stockin blanks produced in such machines, it is essential, if tearing, stretching or deformation of the fabric is to be avoided, to compensatively vary the tension induced by the take-up rolls as the blanks are being knitted. Mechanisms heretofore devised for this purpose either entailed the exercise of judgment on the part of skilled operators to make adjustments at different times during the knitting of the stocking blanks, or were very complicatedand not wholly reliable in their opera- 7 tion.

Our invention is directed toward overcoming the foregoing drawbacks, this desideratum being realized in practice, as hereinafter more fully disclosed, through provision of a simple and relatively inexpensive mechanism comprising a slip clutch for driving the draw-off roll, means automatically operative to change torsional influence of the clutch upon the roll at predetermined times and so vary the tension upon the fabric as desired or required, a second normally inactive slip clutch having the tendency to reversely rotate the roll to partially counteract the torsional influence of the first clutch to correspondingly relieve the tension on the fabric during the welt closing and fashioning phases of the knitting cycle, and supplemental means automatically operative to contudinal section, and diagrammatically, the means by which the operation of said clutches is automatically controlled.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in top plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows III-III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in axial section taken as indicated by the angled arrows IV--IV in Fig. 2; and

I clearance 43,

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the connections between various electrical instrumentalities employed in the mechanism.

With more detailed reference first more specifically to Figs. 1 and 2 of these illustrations, the numeral ID designates the take-up roll of the knitting machine by which the stocking blank S is drawn horizontally away from the needles II as it is being knitted in a well known way. The roll I0 is provided with pull straps, such as the one indicated at I2 in Fig. 2, for releasable connection to the ends of a rod I3 inserted into the fold of the welt W of the stocking blank after said welt has been closed, for example, by automatic mechanism (not shown), likewise in a' well known way. Adjacent one end, the shaft I5 of the take-up roll I0 is rotatively supported in a bearing It on one of the transverse frames I! of the knitting machine, and it is to be understood that it is similarly supported at the opposite end.

For the purpose of imparting controlled yielding rotary motion to the take-up roll I0 in accordance with our invention, we have mounted on the outward end of its shaft beyond the bearing I6, two slip clutches I8 and I9 of the electromagnetic fluid type which are provided with sheaves 20 and 2| respectively. Through belts 22 and 23, rotary motion i imparted to the clutches I8 and I9 by two smaller sheaves 25 and 26 on a counter shaft 2'! which is journaled in a bearing bracket Ila extending laterally from the frame ll. Affixed to the counter shaft 21 with the sheaves 25 and 26, is a larger sheave 28 which is in turn driven, through a belt 29, from a sheave 30 fast on the usual main cam shaft 3| of the machine. Due to crossing of the belt 23, the sheave 2I of clutch I9 is constantly driven contrary to the direction of rotation of the pulley 20 of clutch I8 for a reason later on explained.

The clutch I8, see Fig. 4, comprises a core spool which, in practice, is made of electrical steel and secured to the take-up roll shaft I5 by means of a key 36, and upon which a magnet coil 3'! is wound. The coil 31 is enclosed within a shield 38 jointly formed by a cylindric mid section 39 preferably of non-magnetic, material such as aluminum, two end ring sections 40 and 4|, preferably of steel, which extend about the flanges of the spool 35, and a sealing disk 42 likewisevof aluminum which is secured to the outer face of one of the flanges. The armature element of the electro-magnet is in the form of a cylindric housing 45'which surrounds the shielded coil element with intervention of a slight circumferential The end walls 46 and 4'! of the l ll consist of a mixture of light machine oil andcair- Y bonyl iron powder, leakage of the fluid past-the bearings 50 and 51 being prevented by sealing disks 53 and 54. The SlipTGliltCh I9 is .ahrexa'ct 1 duplicate of the clutch I8 and has not therefore been separately illustrated in detail, the magnet coil only of the former beingshown in dotted lines at 55. The leads 56, 57 and 58,59 from the magnet coils 3I andf55 are threaded through a-longitudinalslotin shaft I5 whereto are secured beyond the clutch I9, three current collecting rings 69, 6I and-6 2. As shown,'in.Fig. 5, magnet ,EBoilleads 5B and 58 are connected to the-center ringtl, and the leads 5! and '59 to the outer rings Biland 62 respectively. v ;Direct current for energizing coils of the slip clutches I8 and I9 is obtained, througha rectifier 6-5 (Fig. 5), from the secondary winding f a 'transformer tb, the primary winding of said transformer being connectedacross-an alternatingcurrentpower line 61 in which a hand switch 168 is-interposed. By means of a conductor 69,'the brush I9 bearing on the central collector ring -6.I is connected to the terminal 'IIof the secondary of transformer 66. Extending from the other terminal "I2 of the transformers'econdary is another conductor I3 which extends to a 'circuit75 whereof the return wire I6 is connected .to the brush TI of collector ring 60. Arranged in parallelacross'the wires 18 and I9 of the circuit "I arebranchestfifBI, 82, 8 3 and Illcontaining in- ;dividual switches 86,9189, '89 and 90, individual separately-adjustable resistances 9|, 92, {33, 94 and 95. Forthe actuation 'of theswitches 86- 90 ehjave provided rotary camsf96, 91,"98," 9 '9 and on an auxiliary 'cam "shaft 'I'OI which, see Figs. 1-3 is rotatively supported in a bearing bracket I012 on the bottom front rail H33 (if the [machine The-shaft IOI is adapted to be intermittently rotated'tliroughl itiking "of a ratchet 1 V wheel 4 I05 thereon; by a pawl I 06 on 'thear'm I07 "'which is oscillatable'about 'said shaft. It isto be no'ted that the ratchet wheel I05 has O'netob'th ih excess of'the number bf the cams "SB- 00, and. that'the rises of saidc'ams are ciicur'liferntially L's'pa'c'ed for actuation 'of "the switches 86- 90 'in succession duringeach full rotation of said "shaft which occurs cure for each knitting 'cycle of the trauma As best show 'in Fig. 'lfthe ipawl farm 1 U1 is operated, th'rodgha link roe I08, by "a lever I09 'havinga cam'fingr IIIlin"th'e'path f df liigs "or buttons, "such "as the "one indicated'at I ll l on'thetimihg chain IITOf the machine. AS

Jesus; in knitting machines of the kind mus,

jtratedfthe "timing chain H2 is intermittently p'rdgre ssed by known mechanism which has "not been illustrated. It'is to beunders'tood that lugs III corresponding in number to the "teeth or "fatchet'wheel I95 are provided on the chain II2,

these being suitably spaced to function at the pfop'er times as hereinafter more "particularly ,pointe'doiit. Connected 'in parallel -across leads B and IIB (Fig. '5) of 'a, supplemental circuit j I ITa'rebranch conductors H8, 1 I9 respectively "containing "individual switches I20, I2 "and infframe I29 of the knitting machine.

dividual separately-adjustable resistances I22 and I23, one of said leads being tapped into the conductor 13 at I25, and the other connected to the brush I26 of collector ring 62. The brushes I9 and I1 and-I26 are spring biasedfsee Figs. 1

49 :aind swpported jina holder I 21 which is carried by a bracket I28 on another transverse Again referring to Fig. 5, the switches I and I2I are arranged to be actuated respectively by rotary canis H0 and I3I on the main cam shaft 3| of themachine-when said shaft is axially shifted duringthe-Weltturning and narrowing phases of each-knitting-cyc-le, the rises of these cams being circuniferritiallyfspaced as shown to close said switches at the. proper times, also as presently explaifi'edin greater detail.

Operation The armature elements of the clutches Iii-and I9 are constantly driven in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows thereonin Fig. 1. fAt the beginning of a stocking knitting cycle, "the chain H2 is actuated to bring the fir'st lug "III of the series thereon beneath the finger III! of arm I09 as shown in Fig. 1. 'As a'consequ'ence, the ratchet wheel I is pickedto the extent or one tooth by the-pawl 'I 06, and the 's'ha'ft'lil'lfcor- 'respondingly shifted rotativ'ely for closure oif'ithe switch 86 by the'cam 96 shoWnin'FiQ S. "tinder these conditions, 'ciirrerith'owsfi'onithe'jtrminal I2 of the secondarybftransfofmer '6 way of conductors-13, 18, 80, 'switchfififf's ist I conductor 1 6, collector "ring 6 'I andcofiduc'tor I39, to 'the terminal f7] of said transformer seconcl-ary to 'energiie "theinagfne't coil "'31 of clutch T8. The resistance *9} is "adjusted to stiip 'in p age takes place between the 'l'elati'vely movable parts of "the clutch 'for "maintenanceer "the desired"tensionw'ithout imposition or unduestrain "ing stage"ofthekrfittin''g cycle, the switch ZQfis "actuated "by the cam 130, with "resultant "estab- "lisl ifin'efit f'o'f 'curr'ent flow from the "secondary "winding-e f the "transformertfifby way-of 06n- 'ductdrs "I5, 11a, switch 1 2e, resistance 1: za ecn- "sienai influence upon 'the roll I 0 ito f c oii nteiac"t, in that induced by "theclutchflfl, for te boraiy reduction to a corresponding degree; in

the tension maintained on the fabric "of the stocking blank while the t; it i being "closed. sdenarter thewelt is complete -t e "rat et 1 05 ispickedanother"tooth to turn'the auxnm cam shaft I 0 I through.anothergirjcrement 'jwh'i'ch tin 'r'the'se cirowi the now by the resistance 92 which-islso a justed respondingly lessene d The decreased de "t hsiou isima fitaihedr hm ei hek i'figvf the tbc'g't of the stockin'g' blank except "during the fashioning phases "of this stage of the knitting a when the'inain shaft'3l of the machine is shifted occasionally. By these shiftings of the main shaft 3|, the cam I 3| momentarily closes the switch H9 for energization of the coil 55 of the clutch I9, the current strength being however then reduced by the resistance I23 which is adjusted to correspond substantially with the set- .ting of the resistance I22 so that the counteracting influence of the clutch l9 upon the clutch 8 will be about the same as during the welt closing stage previously described. Through successive rotary shifts of the shaft l] determined by the disposal of the lugs III on the timing chain H2, the switches 88, 89 and 90 will be closed in sequence at the proper times and held :closed respectively during the heel, foot and toe knitting phases of the machine with attendant modification of the current strength in the magnet coil of the clutch I8 in accordance with the adjustment of the respective resistances 93, 94 and 95 in the circuit 75. By the pick of the sixth or last tooth of the ratchet wheel I05, the shaft l0! will be placed in a neutral position with all of the switches 85-434 open and the circuit dormant until a succeeding knitting cycle is initiated.

While, for the purpose of exemplification herein, we have shown and described our invention in connection with a straight stocking machine, it is not to be considered as limited to such use, since, by suitable modifications within the scope of the broader of the appended claims, it can be readily adapted to other types of knitting machines, as well as to textile machines generally where it is advantageous or necessary to vary the tension maintained upon th fabric as it is drawn away from the producing instrumentalities by take-up rolls.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In fabric draw-off mechanism for a straight flat fashioned stocking blank knitting machine having a fabric take-up roll, an electro-magnetic fluid slip clutch for driving the roll; and means automatically operative, during the knitting of different portions of a stocking blank to change the current flow through the magnetic clutch and thereby vary the torsional influence of the latter upon the roll, said means including a circuit in which a plurality of switches and individually-associated separately-adjustable resistances are connected in parallel with the coil of the magnetic clutch, a shaft with rotary cams thereon for actuating the respective switches, and provisions for imparting intermittent rotary shifts to the shaft for successive actuation of the several switches at the required times during each knitting cycle.

2. In fabric draw-off mechanism for a straight flat fashioned stocking blank knitting machine having a fabric take-up roll and a timing chain; an electro-magnetic fluid slip clutch for driving the roll; and means automatically operative, during the knitting of different portions of a stocking blank to change the current flow through the magnetic clutch and thereby vary the torsional influence of the latter upon the roll, said means including a circuit in which a plurality of switches and individually-associated separately-adjustable resistances are connected in parallel with the coil of the magnetic clutch, a shaft with a ratchet wheel thereon and with rotary cams for actuating the respective switches, and provisions controlled from the timing chain for intermittently picking the ratchet wheel and thereby causing the cams on the shaft to successively actuate the several switches :at the required times during each knitting cycle.

3. In fabric draw-off mechanism for a straight flat fashioned stocking blank knitting machine having a fabric take-up roll, a timing chain and a main cam shaft which is axially shiftable for welt closing and fashioning purposes, an electromagnetic fluid slip clutch for driving the roll; means automatically operative, during the knitting of different portions of a stocking blank to change the current flow in the coil of the magnetic clutch and thereby vary the torsional influence of the latter upon the roll, including a circuit. in which a plurality of switches and individually-associated separately-adjustable resistances are connectedin parallel with the coil of the magnetic clutch, an auxiliary cam shaft with rotary cams thereonfor successively actuating the, switches atthe required times during each knitting cycle, and provisions controlled from the timing chain of the machine for inter.- mittently rotating the shaft; a normally inactive second electromagneticfiuid clutch having a tendency to reversely rotate the roll; and rotary cams on the main cam shaft for actuating the last mentioned switches respectively when said shaft is shifted duringthewelt closing and fashioning phases of the knitting for energization of the coil of the second clutch, whereby the torsional effect of the first clutch upon the shaft is partially counteracted with consequent modification of the tension imposed upon the fabric.

4. In fabric draw-off mechanism for a textile machine, a fabric take-up roll, a driving slip clutch associated with the roll, means automatically operative to change the torsional influence of the clutch upon the roll and so vary the tension imposed upon the fabric at different predetermined stages in the knitting cycle of the machine, and supplemental means automatically operative at predetermined times to partially counteract the torsional effect of the slip clutch upon the roll and. thereby modify the tension imposed upon the fabric during certain stages of the knitting cycle.

5. In fabric draw-off mechanism for a straight flat fashioned stocking blank knitting machine, a fabric take-up roll, a slip clutch for driving the roll, means automatically operative to vary the torsional influence of the clutch upon the roll and thereby modify the tension maintained on the fabric during predetermined stages of the knitting cycle of the machine, and supplemental means automatically operative to partially counteract the torsional effect of the clutch upon the roll and thereby modify the tension imposed during welt closing and during fashioning phases of the knitting.

6. In fabric draw-off mechanism for a textile machine having a fabric take-up roll, an electro-magnetic slip clutch for driving the roll, means automatically operative to vary current flow to the magnetic clutch and so change the torsion influence of the latter for variation in the tension imposed upon the fabric during different predetermined stages in the knitting cycle of the machine, and supplemental means operative at predetermined times during certain stages of the knitting cycle to partially counteract the torsional effect of the clutch and so modify the tension imposed upon the fabric.

'7. In fabric draw-off mechanisms for a textile machine having a fabric take-up roll, an electromagnetic slip clutch for driving the roll, means automatically operative to vary current flow to 

